Several trials have been performed on the use of acupuncture for irritative bladder problems (frequency, nocturia, urgency and urge incontinence) associated with detrusor instability. Acupuncture treatment can bring significant improvement in the first desire to void, bladder capacity and bladder compliance. In addition, patients experienced a significant decrease in the frequency of micturition and improvement in urge incontinence following treatment.

Zheng H, Wang S, Shang J, Chen G, Huang C, Hong H, Chen S. Study on acupuncture and moxibustion therapy for female urethral syndrome. J Tradit Chin Med 1998 Jun;18(2):122-7 RESULTS: “Sixty-nine cases from the acupuncture and moxibustion group and 39 from the control group were subjected before and after treatment to determinations of the maximal bladder pressure, maximal abdominal pressure, bladder-neck pressure, and maximal urethral closure pressure during urination. All these indexes were decreased remarkably in the acupuncture and moxibustion group, while no changes were observed in the control group.”

Kitakoji H, Terasaki T, Honjo H, Odahara Y, Ukimura O, Kojima M, Watanabe H. Effect of acupuncture on the overactive bladder. Nippon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi 1995 Oct;86(10):1514-9. CONCLUSIONS: “Acupuncture induced an increase of maximum bladder capacity and bladder compliance with statistical significance (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), respectively. Acupuncture at the BL-33 point was effective for controlling the overactive bladder.”

Chang PL, Wu CJ, Huang MH. Long-term outcome of acupuncture in women with frequency, urgency and dysuria. Am J Chin Med 1993;21(3-4):231-6. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the long-term outcome of acupuncture at the Sp-6 point for women with frequency, urgency and dysuria was positive, but that the effect was temporary and repeated acupuncture was necessary to maintain beneficial effects.

Honjo H, Kitakoji H, Kawakita K, Saitoh M, Ukimuta O, Kojima M, Watanabe H, Aramaki S. Acupuncture for urinary incontinence in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. A preliminary report . Nippon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi 1998 Jul;89(7):665-9. CONCLUSIONS: “These data suggest that acupuncture could be a promising alternative for conventional therapies for urinary incontinence caused by detrusor hyperreflexia in patients with chronic spinal cord injuries.”

Sato A, Sato Y, Suzuki A. Mechanism of the reflex inhibition of micturition contractions of the urinary bladder elicited by acupuncture-like stimulation in anesthetized rats. Neurosci Res 1992 Nov;15(3):189-98. CONCLUSIONS: “The present findings indicate that the inhibition of the rhythmic micturition contractions (RMCs) of the urinary bladder following acupuncture-like stimulation of the perineal area is a reflex response characterized by segmental organization.”

Nazarishvili GI, Kunchuliia TF, Samkina EN, Gagua GA, Chkhotua AB. The urodynamics of the lower urinary tract and central nervous system function during the reflexotherapy of patients with nocturnal enuresis. Urol Nefrol (Mosk) 1990 Nov-Dec;(6):13-6. RESULTS: “Reflex therapy exerted a steady-state effect in the patients who had not shown EEG abnormalities before the therapy and in those whose EEG parameters became normal after the therapy.”

Philp T, Shah PJ, Worth PH. Acupuncture in the treatment of bladder instability. Br J Urol 1988 Jun;61(6):490-3. RESULTS: “Twenty patients with lower urinary tract symptoms attributable to bladder instability or sensory urgency were treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture; 77% of patients with idiopathic detrusor instability were symptomatically cured.”

Kubista E, Altmann P, Kucera H, Rudelstorfer B. Electro-acupuncture’s influence on the closure mechanism of the female urethra in incontinence. Am J Chin Med 1976 Summer;4(2):177-81. CONCLUSIONS: “these experiments seem to confirm the assumption of electro-acupuncture’s positive influence on the closing mechanism of the female urethra.” 20 subjects.

Xie HZ. Stress urinary incontinence in the female (analysis of 116 cases) Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi. 1980;15(2):68-70.